Planer mining machine with separate adjustable height rotary machine



Aug 2.2 1967' W. MENNE-KES ETAL 3,337,269

yPLANIEJR MINING MACHINE WITH SEPARATE v ADJUSTABLE HEGHT ROTARY-MACHINE Filed April 6, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l F lg.

v illu- Ile Aug, 2v2, 1967 w, MENNEKES ETAL 3,337,269

PLANER MINING MACHINEWITH SEPARATE ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT ROTARY MACHINE Filed April e, 1965 4 sheets-shew 2 Fig. 2

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/NVENTORS waff/Elf ffy/mmf om riff/e DOH/MNO Aug. 22, 1967 w. MENNEKES ETAL 3,337,259

PLANER MINING MACHINE WITH SEPARATE ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT ROTARY MACHINE Filed April 6, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fl'g.3

l /NVENTORS wf/r/yfk Emi/rig V4 GNTHER 0MM/M PLANER MINING MACHINE WITH SEPARATE Aug.' 2z, 1967 w. ML-:NNEKES ETAL 3,337,269

ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT ROTARY MACHINE V Filed April 6, 1965 l l '4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @M2M *gw* M' United States Patent 2z claims. (l. 299-34) ABSTRACT F THE DHSCLSURE A longwall conveyor type mining machine having a planer which travels along `a guide track secured to the mine face side of the conveyor to remove mineral along the lower portion of the mine face, and a rotary cutter which is supported by the conveyor and guided for movement therealong to cut the mine face at heights above the reach of the planer, this rotary cutter being supported by adjustable means to vary its cutting height up to the level of the mine roof line.

This invention relates in general to mineral winning apparatus and, more particularly, to a coal winning apparatus for separately winning coal from the upper and lower portions of a coal seam.

According to the invention, the separate Winning of coal from the upper and lower portions of the coal seam is accomplished by two coal whining machines, one of which is adapted to remove coal from the lower portion of the seam and the other of which is adapted to remove coal from the upper portion of the seam, both of said coal winning machines being movable back and forth along the working face of the seam for coal removal over corresponding mutually parallel mine face paths extending over the mine face length, with said coal removal paths being spaced in a selected elevation relation to each other. The coal removal pat-h produced by the winning machine which is adapted to remove coal from the lower portion 0f the seam workin-g face is substantially xed as to its elevation span, which extends from the mine face floor line to a selected elevation line thereabove. The coal removal path produced by the winning machine which is adapted to remove coal from the upper portion of the working face is selectively adjustably as to its elevation coverage on the mine face.

It is known in the prior art to move two coal winning machines either independently or together along the working face of a mine for removing coal from ldiierent elevation portions thereon. In such prior art arrangements, a planing or paring type of coal Winning machine has been combined with a rotary cutting winning machine for removal of coal along the lower portion of the working face by the coal planer, with the removal of coal from the upper portion of the working face being accomplished by the roatry cutting winning machine.

rIt has been proposed to construct a coal winning apparatus for winning coal from the upper' and lower portions of a coal seam by means of a pair of coal planers coupled together by means of a base plate extending beneath the conveyor, with one of said coal planers being mounted to the base plate on the working face side of the conveyor and the other coal planer being mounted to the base plate on the dump side of the conveyor and at a higher elevation than the planer on the face side thereof. In such a proposed arrangement the coal planer mounted on the face side of the conveyor serves for the removal of the lower portion of the coal seam, and the coal planer on the dump side which is elevated and set back from the coal planer on the face side serves for removal of the upper and overhanging portions of the coal seam. This proposed combination of two coal planers has the disadvantage that the idump side coal planer which reaches partially over the conveyor does not have an adjustable cutting height range, so that in thick coal seams a portion of the coal at the top of the seam escapes the cutting action of the upper coal planer.

It is furthermore known in the prior art to combine a coal planer which is dragged along the working face by an endless chain together with a rotary cutter or fraising cutter. The fraising cutter is driven by the slack portion of the chain and `rotates about an axis approximately perpendicular to the seam floor. Such a combination is likewise subject to the disadvantage that the fraising cutter which serves for removing coal from the upper portion of the seam, is not adjustable in its cutting height range, `so that the coal in the extreme upper portion of a thick seam cannot be removed by the fraising cutter.

Although it is known in mining practice to run a coal planer and a conventional rotary cutter coal winning machine in the same stope, such practices have been limited to cases where the rotary winning machine leads the way into the seam with a broad cut, while the coal planer attacks the base of the seam with a narrow cut and loads the coal that has been removed into the conveyor. Such a practice has the disadvantage that, due to the broad cut made by the rotary winning machine, a large roof area is laid bare, and because the coal along the floor cannot be removed by the coal planervwith the same speed as the rotary winning machine removes the coal above, the presence of the coal extending above the oor prevents the effective propping of the roof area since the propping machines cannot be advanced until the floor has been cleared of coal.

Another limitation in prior art coal winnin-g apparatus wherein rotary coal winning machines were combined with coal planer lies in the fact that in such coal winning arrangements, the rotary winning machines were used as the primary coal winning machines with the planers being used as auxiliary Winning machines for clearing and cleaning up the coal portions missed by the rotary winning maF chines, so that the rotary Winning machines had to be heavy and expensive and consequently somewhat awkward to handle.

The relatively large size and weight of such rotary winning machines was due primarily to the fact that they were -designed for performing the bulk of the coal digging work, and accordingly were equipped with long rotating pick drums and/ or projecting cutter arms.

The coal winning apparatus according to the invention differs from the prior art apparatus in both structure and method of operation. According to the invention, the lower coal is won by one or more traveling coal planers which have a paring cutting action and are carried along- Side the conveyor trough guided by runners.

A rotary cutting coal winning machine, pivotally mounted to a traveling carriage for cutting height adjustment, is used for removing those portions of the upper coal which do not fall of their own weight into the conveyor after the lower coal has been cut away. This coal winning machine has a fraising wheel which is rotated about a horizontal axis relative to a horizontal mine oor, and attacks the coal seam face along a cutting path area which is set back from that of the coal planer.

For convenience, the conveyor is supported between a pair of parallel spaced guide runners which can be of the double track variety so as to serve for guiding both the coal planer and the carriage which supports the rotary coal winning machine.

The guide runners are arranged in substantially parallel relation to, and in front of the working face wherefrom coal is to be removed, and can be supported by the mine iloor, as can be the conveyor. As in conventional long wall mining arrangements, the conveyor and guide runners extend lengthwise over the length of the mine face, so that as the coal planer and rotary winning machine travel back and forth along the runners, they engage the mine face along respectively parallel cutting paths.

The coal planer is arranged so as to produce a coal removal path along the mine face which extends in elevation (i.e. path width) from the mine floor line to an elevation line thereabove which is established by the effective cutting breadth of the coal planer, and is substantially fixed for a given coal planer cutter arrangement.

The rotary winning machine, on the other hand, produces a coal removal path which is parallel to, but set back in depth from the coal removal path produced by the coal planer, and can be varied in elevation by swinging the fraising wheel rotation axis into a corresponding angular position about the pivot axis of the winning machine.

The extent to which the coal removal path produced by the fraising wheel can be varied in elevation depends upon the radial distance between the pivot axis of the winning machine and the axis of fraising wheel rotation, as well as the angular swing capability provided by the winning machine and carriage mounting clearance.

Because the fraising wheel, which cuts in a manner similar to an end mill cutter, can be swung into a selected elevation position, it can be smaller in diameter and yet be capable of complete mine face coverage than would be possible in the case of a fraising wheel of the prior art coal winning arrangements which do -not provide such an adjustable elevation coverage capability. In such a prior art arrangement with a xedly mounted fraising wheel, the wheel diameter would necessarily have to be sufcient ly large to cut a coal removal path extending from the upper boundary of that produced by the planer to the mine roof line.

The advantage of the adjustable fraising wheel in the apparatus of the instant invention can be readily appreciated where the thickness of the coal seam varies along its depth. In such a situation, the fraising wheel can be raised and lowered to follow the thickness of the seam as the coal removal progresses. Also, the fraising wheel used in the apparatus of the invention can be lowered for complete coal removal down to the region cut away by the planer.

In the initial operation of the coal winning apparatus of the invention, the coal removal will be performed entirely by the planer, by reason of the setback of the fraising wheel effective cutting surface in relation to that of the planer. The amount of setback between the effective cutting planes of the coal planer and the fraising wheel is preferably made approximately equal to the depth of the planer as measured between its foremost cutting edge and its travel line on the forward guide runner. As the planer works, cut by cut, deeper into the bottom coal face, the stope conveyor is advanced successively, and/or simultaneously into the direction of cutting by conventional advancing means, so that any of the upper coal that has not dropped into the conveyor will overhang the conveyor to an increasing extent such that it will eventually drop into it. The -remaining upper coaladhering to the seam roof is removed by the fraising wheel of the winning machine and falls into the conveyor.

By operating the apparatus of the invention so that the roof coal is removed by the action of the winning machine, and the bottom coal is removed by the planer, the principal excavation work will be performed by the planer, and since the coal between the planer and fraising wheel cutting paths will normally fall of its own accord into the conveyor, the winning machine need only be designed for an auxiliary, but necessary coal removal role, and consequently, can be relatively light and small in construction, and of low power output.

Another advantageous feature provided by the coal winning apparatus of the invention lies in the fact that the mine roof is laid bare only in narrow sections between successive advancements of the propping machines which are customarily used in conjunction with coal winning apparatus of this type.

At any time during the operation of the apparatus of the invention, only a relatively small unsupported roof span need remain because of the setback arrangement of the planer and winning machine which permits the conveyor to be advanced further than otherwise would be possible if both the planer and the winning machine operated at the same cutting depth level.

It should be noted that by a suitable guide runner arrangement, such as can be provided by a double track type -of guide runner arrangement, the coal planer and the rotary winning machine can be moved along the length of the seam face either together or independently, as desired in a given application of the invention. Where the coal planer and coal winning machine are to be moved tO- gether, the coal planer can be connected with the portallike carriage which supports the winning machine, and a single drive means, such as for example, an endless chain drive means can be used for moving both along the guide runners. In such case, a single track type of guide runner can be used since there is no chance of interference as in the case where the coal planer and rotary winning machine are moved independently.

Separate drive means are used for moving the coal planer and rotary winning machine along the guide runners independently.

The rota-ry winning machine is preferably constructed with the fraising wheel being supported by a housing, or frame member which is pivotally connected to the carriage. As desired the drive means for rotating the fraising wheel can be either mounted to such a frame member, 1so as to be swingable with it, or the drive means can be mounted to the carriage and connected to rotatably drive the fraising wheel by means of a suitable transmission which is capable of transmitting rotary power to the fraising wheel regardless of the angular position of the frame member about its pivot axis.

For example, the fraising wheel can be mounted upon a shaft journaled to or through the frame member, with a chain drive sprocket, or toothed wheel |being also mounted on said shaft. A motor having a similar sprocket wheel mounted thereon lcan be xedly mounted to the carriage to drive the fraising wheel by means of an endless chain belt connecting the two sprockets. Such an arrangement would permit the fraising wheel to be driven by the motor throughout the swing range of the frame member. In addition, such an arrangement permits the rea-r end of the fraising wheel drive shaft to be free.

According to the invention, a cooling liquid or cutting assisting agent, such as water, can be supplied to the cutting area of the fraising wheel by providing the fraising wheel with a plurality of internal passages which are connected with nozzle-like internal passages that discharge at the Various cutting picks on the fraising wheel, and are connected with a hollow drive shaft. The liquid to be supplied to the cutting picks can be provided through a rotary coupling connector mounted on the free rea-r end of the drive shaft, which in this case is hollow, and a flexible supply line connected to said coupling connector. The liquid is preferably supplied under pressure to the rotary coupling and passes through the axial bore of the drive shaft and the various radial passages in the fraising wheel leading to the discharge nozzles at the picks.

The frame member can be pivoted to swing the fraising wheel into a `desired elevation position by means of an adjustable linkage comprising a telescopically extendable and contractable linear actuator which is articulately connected to an arm welded onto the frame member, and

articulately connected to the carriage. This linear actuator is preferably a hydraulic cylinder actuator which is connected to controllable hydraulic means for varying its effective length to rotate the frame member with the fraising wheel into a selected angular position about the pivot -axis to position the fraising wheel so as to produce a coal removal path having a selected elevation relation with respect to the coal removal path produced by the coal planer.

The carriage which supports the Winning machine with its fraising wheel, frame member, adjustable linkage, and associated drive means is substantially triangular in prole as viewed from the mine face, with the ends of said carriage each having a pair of legs standing at approximately right angles to each other, the free ends of which rest in the manner of skids on the lateral member of the conveyor trough, and have lugs projecting perpendicularly to the coal face, on the ends of which .guiding runners are provided for engagement into a tubular guiding member, said runners serving simultaneously, in a conventional manner for the connection of the driving chains.

Regardless of Whether or not the carriage is provided with independent drive means for movement back and forth along the mine face independently of the cutting action of the coal planer, the adjustment of the fraising wheel height is accomplished in the same manner, namely that the `frame member carrier of the fraising wheel is provided with an arm that is swingable by means of a hydraulic cylinder and is articulately mounted to the carrier with the distance between the fraising wheel rotation axis and the pivot connection of the frame member to the carriage being such that. the fraising wheel can be swung over the entire thickness of the seam. The diameter of the fraising wheel in this case exceeds the diameter of its drive shaft to such an extent that the free radial height clearance is greater than the height of the conveyor including such guide means for the winning machine.

This particular arrangement is advantageous in the event that the coal on the oor should become caked so that the planer tends to climb upward, in which event the fraising wheel can be lowered to the floor and can aid the planer by removing the obstructing caked coal.

In the case of especially thick coal seams, additional rotary coal cutting tools can be disposed on the frame member that carries the fraising wheel, or on an extension of its pivot connecting shaft.

The rotatory driving of the fraising wheel can be performed either, as stated previously, or by means of an additional driving unit carried with the system, or by chains which are carried albout appropriate sprockets on the fraising machine. In the latter case, the rotatory driving of the fraising wheel is performed through the relative movement between the fraising machine and a chain running on the waste side of the conveyor.. The rotatory driving of the fraising wheel can also be achieved, through the relative movement between the fraising machine and the slack side of the planer pulling chain which runs on the coal-face side of the conveyor.

It is expedient for the chains that produce the rotatory driving of the fraising Wheel to be located each in a passageway into which they can be laid and which is covered by shield members which can be displaced or swung 'aside laterally and which do not interfere with the removal and reinsertion of the chain. In this manner the working crew is protected against injuries by a chain running in an open trough.

It is therefore, an object of the invention to provide a coal winning apparatus which is capable of removing coal from a mine seam working face from the oor line to the roof line thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus as aforesaid which is capable of such Vcoal removal in mine seams of varying thickness.

Another and further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus as aforesaid wherein the principal portion of the excavation work is performed in the removal of coal from the lower portion of the mine face by a coal planer, with the remaining upper coal being removed by a rotary cutting winning machine.

Still another and further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus as .aforesaid wherein the cutting height of the rotary winning machine is adjustable.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus as aforesaid wherein the coal planer and rotary winning machine are capable .of independently traveling along the length of the mine face for coal removal at respectively separate elevation levels thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide in an apparatus as aforesaid, means for supplying a liquid coolant to the cutting portions of the rotary winning machine.

Other and further objects yand advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation view, partly in section, of a coal winning apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, as viewed in a direction parallel to the mine face upon which it operates.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 as viewed from the mine face.

FIG. 3 is a schematic detail View, partly in section, of a portion of the rotary winning machine used in the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is another schematic front elevation View, in greater detail, of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, showing a typical operating position of the apparatus in relation to a mine seam.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevation vieW of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4, illustrating a typical operating position of said apparatus in relation to a mine seam.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevation view, partly in section, of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring now to the drawings, on the two lateral members 1 of a conveyor 2, chain passageways 3 are provided. A guiding runner 5 of the portal-like carriage 6 which supports the rotary winning machine 7 that cuts the upper coal engages in a passageway 4 disposed on the coal face side of the conveyor 2. The opening of the passageway 4 faces in the direction toward the waste side of said conveyor 2.

Into bearing holes 8 in the end plates 9 of the portallike carriage 6 there extend journals 10 which are disposed on the box frame member 11 which supports the drive means for rotatably driving the fraising wheel 1,2. The` mechanical power for driving the fraising wheel 12 can be supplied by any conventional means (not shown) or through a moving chain 14.

A portal-like opening 15 permits the free passage of coal transported on the conveyor 2 without interference with the motion of the carriage 6 along the guide runner 5.

FIG. 2 shows the carriage 6 as viewed from the coal face, with the passageways 3 and 4 uncovered so that the guiding runners 5 are visible. On the coal face side the carriage 6 has anot-her portal-like opening 15 which permits the coal to be loaded by a coal planer 40 into the conveyor 2.

The fraising wheel 12 can be pivoted about an axis established by the bearing holes 8 and journals 10, together with the frame member 11 which has a lever arm 16 which is connected to an actuator cylinder 18 through a fulcrum or pivot point 17. The other end of the actuator cylinder 18 is supported on one of the legs 19 at the bearing or pivot point 20. The center of rotation of the coal cutting fraising wheel 12 can be swung by a certain angular amount about the pivot axis of the frame member 11, as shown by the trajectory 21. In FIG. 2 the uppermost of the fraising wheel 12 is shown in full outline, while the lowermost position of said fraising wheel is shown by the phantom circle 22.

FIG. 3 shows a partial section of a driving motor 25, such as a hydraulic motor, which drives the drive shaft 26 of the fraising wheel 12 via the toothed wheel 27. The shaft 26 has an axial bore 28 into which water under pressure is introduced through the bearing nipple 29, thimble 3l) and exible line 31. After passing through the bore 28 the Water runs through a system of distributing passages 32 and radial passages 33 into and through lines 34 which are connected to nozzles 36 located in the vicinity of the individual cutting picks 35.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the invention wherein the fraising machine is articulately coupled with a pair of conventional coal planers 40. The opening of the carriage provides a suitable passageway between the coal face and the conveyor 2.

An arm 42 which can pivot about the axis X rotatably supports the fraising wheel 12. The arm 42 is pivoted by means of the hydraulic actuating cylinder 18. To produce rotational motion of the fraising wheel 12, a chain 44 runs around the sprockets 45, 45 and 46 which are mounted on the carriage. The drive chain 44 is disposed to run on the waste side of the carriage and conveyor 2.

In FIG. 5, additional coal removing tools 41 are shown which rotate and which are disposed on the extended tilting shaft of the arm 42 that carries the fraising wheel 12.

In FIG. 6, no separate driving chain, such as the chain 44, is provided, but instead the planer pulling chain 48 on the coal face side of the apparatus is carried around the sprockets 45 and 46 on its slack side 47.

Thus, from the foregoing description of a coal winning apparatus A according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there can be appreciated numerous advantageous features. However, the advantages and embodiments of the invention are not necessarily limited to those speciically mentioned previously herein, and the invention can be readily adapted to the winning of minerals in general.

In the broad concept of the invention, the coal Winning apparatus A can be reduced to the combination of a iirst mineral winning means, a second mineral winning means, respective means for moving said iirst and second mineral winning means along the length of a mine face, and means for selectively adjusting the elevation of the second mineral winning means in relation to the first.

The rst mineral winning means is exempliiied by the one or more planers 40 which are movable along the length of the mine face and are adapted to engage the lower portion thereof to remove mineral (coal) therefrom along a mine face path extending from the mine lower line to a selected elevation line thereabove.

The second mineral winning -means is exemplified by the fraising wheel 12 which is likewise movable along the length of the mine face, and is so movable in parallel relation to the planer 40 movement, but at a selected elevation thereabove to engage the upper portion of the mine face to remove coal therefrom along a mine 4face path which is parallel to that produced by the planer 40, and at a corresponding elevation thereabove.

In general, the lirst and second mineral winning means are not necessarily restricted to the combination of the planer and fraising wheel respectively, but can be other types of mineral winning machines, such as for example the second mineral winning means could be a second coal planer (not shown) similar to the planer 40, or the rst mineral winning means could be a fraising wheel (not shown) similar to the fraising wheel 12 but preferably yof a larger diameter.

By reason of the fact that the planer 40 and fraising wheel 12 are effectively `guided along the same direction by the guide runner means 5, the paths which they cut in the coal face will be mutually parallel for a fixed elevation position -of the fraisin-g wheel 12. The guide runners 5 yare not necessarily restricted in form to those specifically shown Vin the drawings and described previously herein, but may be any `.suitable guide runner means.

Furthermore, the provision of ythe conveyor 2 is not absolutely essential in order for the apparatus A to be operative, although the provision of a conveyor Z is highly desirable as may be app-reciated by those skilled in the art, the conveyor 2 can 'be omitted if the coal removed by the apparatus A is removed by any other suitable means (not shown), such as manual means, at such intervals that would prevent its accumulation to an extent which woul-d impede the motion of the traveling carriage 6 and planer 40.

The control over the elevation of the mine face path produced by the fraising wheel 12 is achieved by means of an adjustable linkage which positions the frame 11 or arm 42 carrying the fraising wheel 12. This `adjustable linkage -is provided by the actuator 18 which is preferably pivotally connected at one end to the carriage 6, or to a member mounted thereto, such `as a lug, etc. (not shown), and said actuator 18 is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the frame 11, or arm 42, or any equivalent member (not shown) which serves for supporting the fraising wheel 12. Although it has ibeen mentioned that the actuator 18 is connected to the lever arm 16 which is fixedly attached, such as by welding, to the frame member 11, it is not essential that such a lever arm 16 be provided if the lframe 11 is so constructed as to be connectable directly to the end of the actuator 18. While a conventional hydraulic cylinder actuator 13 has been illustrated for purposes of example as the adjustable linkage means, other types of .adjustable linkages can be substituted, if desired. For example, a turnbuckle arrangement (not shown), or even a rotary actuator (not shown) could be substituted for the linear actuator 18 since the purpose of `the adjustable vlinkage means is to swing the fraising wheel 12 into a selected angular position about its pivot connection axis on the carriage 6.

The means for rotating the fraising wheel 12 can be either mounted to the pivotal yframe 11, or can be mounted `to the carriage 6, in such case with a suitable power transmis-sion means between said drive means and fraising wheel 12 drive shaft 26 Ibeing provided.

Also, as indicated by FIG. 4, it is not essential to provide a separa-te motor for driving the fraising wheel 12. For example, the fraising wheel 12 can be driven by means of a sprocket 46 mounted on -a shaft passing through the line of pivot connection of `the frame 11 or arm 42 to the carriage 6, with said sprocket 46 being driven by the slack portion 47 of the chain 48 passing thereover. Since the chain 48 is used for moving the planer 40, and is normally moving relative to the carriage 6, such relative motion of the chain 48 can be imparted to produce rotation of the sprocket 46 by passing its slack portion 47 over said sprocket 46. Y

The sprockets 45 and 45 merely serve to aid the passage of the chain portion 48 around the sprocket 46 and while said sprockets 45 and 45 are highly desirable for guiding the chain portion 47, they can be omitted if other suitable guide means (not shown) are provided for the purpose.

The portallike carriage 6 has been shown as constructed in a somewhat triangular or trapoidal outline, with legs 19 which span openings 15 an-d 15', for purposes of illustrating that the carriage 6 is preferably constructed so that the coal cut by the planer 40 land the fraising wheel 12 is free to enter onto the conveyor 2. As will be appreciated by the artisan, a carriage 6 which is substantially enclosed laterally will be generally unsuitable for mining operations, since the object of such mining operations wherein an apparatus A is used, is to facili-tate the 4removal of the coal released by the apparatus A. While the legs 19 have been shown as standing approximately at Iright angles to one another, whose bottom ends are provided with guiding lugs projecting lat right angles to the `mine face, for skid-like support of the carriage 6 upon the lateral members 1 of the conveyor 2, other suitable carriage guiding Varrangements (not shown) can be substituted.

Furthermore, it is not essential that the planer 40 be directly mounted to the guide runners 5, but can be mounted for parallel movement therealong by any suitable conventiona-l means (not shown).

Where it is desired to move the planer 40 and haising Wheel 12 independently, :a double track type of guide yrunner means (not shown) or its equivalent is preferably used. For independent movement of the planer 40 and fraising wheel 12, what is required is that the carriage 6 be capable of traveling on the guide runners 5 over the length ofthe mine face without any interference from the means which supports the planer 40 in guiding engagement with, or in parallel guided rela-tion to, the guide runners 5.

What is claimed is:

1. A mineral winning apparatus which comprises a rst elongated guide means disposed for extension along the length of a mine floor, a planer means disposed for engagement with said first guide means and for movement therealong in cutting engagement with the mine face to remove mineral therefrom along a path extending from the mine floor line up to a given height thereabove, a second elongated guide means, also disposed for extension along the length of the mine face, a rotary cutting mineral winning means including at least one rotary cutter and disposed for engagement with said second guide means and for movement therealong with the rotary cutter positioned in cutting engagement with the mine face to remove mineral therefrom along a path parallel to the mineral removal path of said planer means and at a selected elevation thereabove, and means for selectively adjusting the elevation of said rotary cutter with respect to said planer means to correspondingly vary the elevation of the mineral removal path produced by said rotary cutter over an elevation range extending up to the mine roof line.

2. The mineral winning apparat-us according to claim 1 wherein Said rotary cutting mineral winning means includes a rotary cutter having a disc member disposed for rotation in facing relation to the mine face and bearing a plurality of cutters extending toward the mine face for mineral extractive engagement therewith.

3. The mineral winning apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said planer means includes cutters positioned to remove mineral from the mine face at a greater depth than that removed by the cutters borne by said disc member.

4. The mineral winning apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said disc member is disposed for rotation about an axis approximately perpendicular to the mineral removal path producedby the cutters it bears.

S. A coal winning apparatus which comprises:

(a) guide runner means adapted to extend along a mine face;

(b) a coal planer supported in guiding engagement with said guide `runner means and movable therealong in cutting engagement with the mine face to remove coal therefrom along a mine face path extending from the mine floor line to a selected elevation line thereabove;

(c) means for supporting said coal planer in guiding engagement with the guide runner means;

(d) means for moving said coal planer along said guide runner means and in cutting engagement with the mine face;

(e) carriage means supported in guiding engagement by said guide runner means and movable therealong in parallel relation to the movement of said coal planer along the mine face;

(f) rotary cutting coal winning means pivotally connected to said carriage means and movable therewith, said coal winning means including a rotary cutter .adapted to engage a portion of the mine face at a selected elevation above the coal removal path produced by said coal planer for coal removal along a correspondingly elevated mine face path parallel to that produced by the coal planer, with the elevation of the coal-removal path produced by said rota-ry cutter being established by the yangular position of the coal winning means about pivot connection axis to the carriage means;

(g) -adjustable linkage means connected to said carriage means and to said coal winning means for supporting said coal winning means in a selected angular position about the axis of its pivot connection to the carriage means for producing a rotary cutter coal removal path having a selected elevation with respect to the coal removal path produced by the coal planer when said coal planer and rotary cutter are m-oved in cutting engagement along the mine face; and

(h) means for moving said carriage means and coal winning means connected thereto along said guide runner means for removal of coal from the mine face by said rotary cutter as aforesaid.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the means for supporting the coal plane-r in guiding engagement with the guide runner means is fixedly connected to the carriage means for simultaneous movement therewith, and a single means for moving both the coal planer and carriage means together with the rotary cutting coal winning means replaces the separate means for moving the coal planer and carriage means respectively.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the rotary cutter of the coal winning means is disposed in posterior spaced relation to t-he effective cutting plane of the coal planer to produce a correspondingly spaced depthwise rel-ation between the coal removal paths produced by the rotary cutter and the coal planer in the mine face.

8. The appara-tus according to claim 7 wherein the spacing between the rotary cutter and the effective cutting plane of the coal'planer is approximately equal to the distance between said effective cutting plane and the guide runner means which guides the motion of said coal planer.

9. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the rotary cutter of the coal winning means is a fraising wheel which rotates about .an axis perpendicular to the plane of the mine face cutting pat-h produced by said fraising wheel.

10. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the coal winning means includes a frame member for supporting -the rotary cutter, said frame member being pivotally connected to the carriage means eccentrically with respect to the rotation Iaxis of said rotary cutter, and said frame member being also connected to the adjustable linkage means Ifor angular positioning about said pivot connection axis thereby.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the coal winning means includes a frame member for supporting -the fraising wheel, said frame member being pivotally connected to the carriage means eccentrically with respect Ito the Irotation axis of sa-id fraising wheel, and said frame member bein-g also connected to the adjustable linkage means for angular positioning about said pivot connection axis thereby.

12. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the adjustable linkage means includes la telescopically extendable and contra-ctable -linear .actuator connected to the carriage means and to the coal winning means, and controllable means for varying the effective length of said actuator to rotate the coal winnin-g means into a selected angular position about its pivot connection axis.

16. The apparatus according to claim 10 including a lever arm fixedly mounted to the rotary cutter support frame member, and wherein the adjustable Ilinkage means includes a telescopically extendable and contractable linear actuator connected to the carriage means and to said lever arm, and controllable means for varying the effective length of said actuator to rotate lthe frame member and hence the coal winning means into a selected angular position about its pivot connection axis.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11 including a lever arm xedly mounted to the raising wheel support frame member, :and Wherein the adjustable linkage means includes a telescopically extendable and contractable linear actuator connected to the carriage means and to sla-id lever a-rm, and controllable means for varying the effective length of said actuator to rotate the frame member and hence the fraising wheel of the coal winning means into a selected angular position 'about the pivot connection axis of said coal winning means.

15. The apparatus according to claim S wherein the rotary cutter `of the coal winning means is provided with a plurality of internal liquid flow passages for the flow of coolant liquid therethrough, and including means for supplying liquid through said passages for cooling said rotary cutter.

16. The apparatus according to claim 10 including a mot-or mounted to the frame member and .transmission means connecting said motor with the rotary cutter of the coal winning means for driving said cutter by said motor.

17. The apparatus according to claim 10 including rotary drive means mounted to the carriage means, and trans-mission means connecting said drive means to the rotary cutter for rotating same by said drive means, said transmission means being pivotally movable with the fram-e member `about the pivot connection axis thereof.

18.` The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the rotary drive means mounted to the carriage includes a sprocket wheel, land including a drive chain passing in engagement with .said sprocket wheel to rotate same for driving the rotary cutter via the transmission means, and means for continuous-ly passing said drive chai-n in engagement with said sprocket wheel.

19. The apparatus Iaccording to claim 5 wherein the means for moving the coal planer along the guide runner includes a movable drive chain, and including a sprocket wheel rotatably journaled to the carriage means and -in engagement with said drive chain for .rotation by the l2 movement thereof, and transmission means for imparting the rotation of said sprocket wheel to the rotary cutter of the coal winning means.

20. The apparatus according to ola-im 5 wherein the distance between -the axis of rotation of the rotary cutter and the pivot connection axis of the coal winnin-g means is such as to permit the adjustable linkage means to position said lrotary cutter and winning means for coal removal along any selected mine face path within 4the elevation range bounded by the mine floor line and a selected clearance distance above the elevation of the uppermost point on the apparatus exclusive of points on the rotary cutter.

21. The lapparatus according to claim 9 wherein the diameter of the f-raising wheel is such that when the coal winning mea-ns is pivotally positioned to produce a co-al removal path corresponding to the maximum elevation capability of the fraising wheel, the uppermost point on said fraising wheel is the point of highest elevation on the apparatus.

22. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the rotary cutting coal winning means is provided with a plurality of rotary cutters.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,848,192 3/1932 Newman 299-81 X 2,105,505 1/1938 Ramsay 299-44 X 2,691,514 10/1954 Lobbe 299-34 FORElGN PATENTS 647,873 12/1950 Great Britain. 852,628 10/1960 Great Britain. 879,923 10/ 1961 Great Britain.

ERNEST R. PURSER, Prim-ary Examiner. 

1. A MINERAL WINNING APPARATUS WHICH COMPRISES A FIRST ELONGATED GUIDE MEANS DISPOSED FOR EXTENSION ALONG THE LENGTH OF A MINE FLOOR, A PLANER MEANS DISPOSED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRST GUIDE MEANS AND FOR MOVEMENT THEREALONG IN CUTTING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MINE FACE TO REMOVE MINERAL THEREFROM ALONG A PATH EXTENDING FROM THE MINE FLOOR LINE UP TO A GIVEN HEIGHT THEREABOVE, A SECOND ELONGATED GUIDE MEANS, ALSO DISPOSED FOR EXTENSION ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE MINE FACE, A ROTARY CUTTING MINERAL WINNING MEANS INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE ROTARY CUTTER AND DISPOSED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SECOND GUIDE MEANS AND FOR MOVEMENT THEREALONG WITH THE ROTARY CUTTER POSITIONED IN CUTTING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MINE FACE TO REMOVE MINERAL THEREFROM ALONG A PATH PARALLEL TO THE MINERAL REMOVAL PATH OF SAID PLANER MEANS AND AT A SELECTED ELEVATION THEREABOVE, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ADJUSTING THE ELEVATION OF SAID ROTARY CUTTER WITH RESPECT TO SAID PLANER MEANS TO CORRESPONDINGLY VARY THE ELEVATION OF THE MINERAL REMOVAL PATH PRODUCED BY SAID ROTARY CUTTER OVER AN ELEVATION RANGE EXTENDING UP TO THE MINE ROOF LINE. 